Rolo's Mom - I don't recall when graduation starts, but if it is at 0800, I would actually suggest getting there about 0700, as you will have to wait in line in your car to be approved from your name on the list before you can enter NNPTC. They had two lines going through the gate for check in. One was for regular employees trying to access NNPTC, and then the other line was for those of us going to graduation and we had to pull over so they could look up our name on the list. Then we parked. For our Power School graduation, due to rain we ended up having two graduations because they could not fit everyone inside Bowman Center. (I think that is the right building). Otherwise, Power School graduation is held outside. My son's graduation was the 2nd one and they had us all wait in the galley until it was our turn to have graduation. 

What I wish I had known was that the shop where you could go buy NNPTC souvenirs closed at noon. By the time we got over there after my son had received his orders, they were just closing up. We probably could have stopped by there during the first graduation and shopped. 

If there is a change in plans for how graduation is going to take place, your sailor is the best person to ask. And don't expect just anyone in uniform to know exactly where you should go, if they do have to split the graduation. (I learned that the hard way.)

Rolo's Mom - Congratulations to your Sailor!!!  That is exciting!!!

When we went, I think we AIMED to be there at 7:30, but there was a bad accident that morning and it slowed everything down.  In fact, they delayed the starting of the program because the main speaker was stuck in traffic.  (I think we started about 15 minutes late.)

Everything is well-organized - parking, Sailors directing you where to go, etc.  There's a little bit of a delay getting in the gate, but I think if you are there by 7:30, it will all go great!

Please post next week and tell us how it was!

PS I bought a travel mug from the Power School graduation, and it is my favorite travel mug EVER.  It keeps my coffee hot for a LONG time!!

Happy Graduation Day!!!  What a great day!  They ended up giving the sailors one parking pass each and essentially said carpool or figure it out. That was the only annoying thing about the entire experience for us. We carpooled with my sailor’s buddy’s family and getting onto base was easy and relatively speedy. There were lines, but the flow was consistent…very unlike Great Lakes. It was outside and overcast for the most part, but got pretty warm at the end. Those poor Navy peeps…wearing camo and uniforms in the sun…miserable I’m sure. The ceremony went quickly and the speakers were good. They allowed cards for the stuff to purchase, but I wasn’t paying attention if they allowed cash. It was a very good day!